Which Flower is The National Flower of North Korea?

Kimjongilia

For the documentary film, see Kimjongilia (film).

Begonia 'Kimjongilhwa'
Genus	Begonia
Cultivar group	Tuberhybrida Group
Cultivar	'Kimjongilhwa'

Kimjongilia
Chosŏn'gŭl	김정일화
Hancha	金正日花
Revised Romanization	Gimjeongilhwa
McCune–Reischauer	Kimjŏngirhwa

Kimjongilia is a flower named after the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. It is a hybrid cultivarof tuberous begonia, registered as Begonia ×tuberhybrida 'Kimjongilhwa'.^[1] When Kim Jong-ildied in December 2011 the flower was used to adorn his corpse for public display.^[2] Despite its name, the Kimjongilia is not the national flowerof North Korea, which is the magnolia.^[3] Another flower, Kimilsungia, is an orchid cultivar named after Kim Jong-il's father and predecessor, Kim Il-sung.

Contents

  [hide] 

• 1 History
• 2 Bloom
• 3 Song
• 4 See also
• 5 References
• 6 Further reading

History[edit]

To commemorate Kim Jong-il's 46th birthday in 1988, Japanese botanistKamo Mototeru cultivated a new perennial begonia named "kimjongilia" (literally, "flower of Kim Jong-il"), representing the Juche revolutionary cause of the Dear Leader.^[4] It was presented as a "token of friendship between Korea and Japan".^[5] The flower symbolizes wisdom, love, justice and peace. It is designed to bloom every year on Kim Jong-il's birthday, February 16.^[6]

Bloom[edit]

On October 21, 2008, the Korean Central News Agency announced a preservation agent had been developed that would allow the flower to keep in bloom for longer periods of time.^[7]

Song[edit]

A song composed by several North Korean composers, also called "Kimjongilia", was written about the flower:^[8]

The red flowers that are blossoming over our land
Are like hearts: full of love for the leader
Our hearts follow the young buds of Kimjongilia
Oh! The flower of our loyalty!